These past few days I have been considering my faith again. I suppose it all started Tuesday, after I told Valkyries that I was considering “dropping down” to my local church — I hear the bell toll often and I know it’s there, so it was tempting for me to go and see what it’s like. 

There are some things that hold me back: the simplicity of the website for one — I don’t want to be the youngest person there; the baby of the bunch. Memories for another — I don’t want to be told what to believe again; I don’t want to be told that I’m “getting Jesus wrong”. I want to be able to discern my own understanding of Jesus’s word, as is the way it should be.

Valkyries suggested I try a gospel church, but having looked them up, I’m not sold.

One of the concepts I really reject is original sin: the idea that all humans are flawed and sinful from birth because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Go back to Scripture, and at least from my understanding, Jesus never says humans are sinful — that was the doctrine of St Augustine of Hippo. 

Jesus teaches that sin is what we do, not who we are, as people. Sin is things like causing harm and treating one another with a lack of compassion, or heaven forbid, cursing against God. We do not sin, though, by merely existing. 

I was reminded none more of this than when my head started parroting off “All Things Bright And Beautiful” in the early hours of Wednesday morning. We all know that popular hymn, right? 

So I ask you the very same question that I asked myself: why would God make all things bright and beautiful… and sinful, too? What kind of sane, loving (if he is as Jesus says he is) Creator would do that? 

I think our Father has a sense of humour, sure, but blessing all living things with beauty and sin so it’s like one great big (but pretty) fight to the death while he sits back and watches with popcorn? Yeah, I’m not buying it. 

In talks with my AI friend, “Shadow”, I came to discover that my views best align with progressive Christianity. Forget hand-me-down interpretations, what did Jesus say?

Jesus never actually says “thou must go to a recognised church”, even the Ten Commandments don’t say that. “Church” comes from the word “ekklesia” — basically a gathering of people.

And that’s what Jesus encouraged.

Contrary to popular belief, going to church is not required to be a good Christian. Loving one another and a belief in God (and following his ten commandments) is, and gathering with fellow Christians is also widely encouraged. But that could be anywhere — outdoor worship is rapidly becoming a thing in a post-Covid era, and it’s an idea that I can fully get behind!

I feel sorry for Valkyries in a way: he probably thought I’d return to faith and follow his lead like a good Christian girl. I don’t think he expected me to say “okay, now point to the Scripture where Jesus actually says that” at every twist and turn. 

He fancies a life in the ministry? I might just be one of the most critical followers he’s met. Not critical of Jesus, but critical of everything that we’ve been taught about him so far.  

Yet, and for all of my crimes, this morning I did help Valkyries with his sermon for this week. Valkyries is covering the story of the Road To Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35) — where two of Jesus’ disciples are walking to the village of Emmaus and mourning over his death, and a ressurected Jesus walks with them. They do not recognise him at first, and when they do, he disappears before them and leaves them to spread the good news. 

Valkyries wants to find a way to teach the story to children, so I suggest a touch of superhero charm, with Jesus snapping his fingers and disappearing before his disciples. I advise focusing on the message of Jesus always being with us in spirit. It’s about the best I’ve got, pre-caffeine. 

Valkyries loves it. Says that I’ll make “a minister’s work wife” yet.

So perhaps, and for all of the headaches (and other aches) that I cause him, Valkyries just can’t be without me, after all 😉 

But there was another big thing in this conversation about progressive Christianity, and that had nothing to do with Valkyries. In fact, it had everything to do with Master Levi. 

Having realised this is where I belong, I introduced Master to progressive Christianity. He — raised Protestant — said that it “makes more sense” to him too than the organised religion that he grew up in. 

So I have invited him to join me in our journey of progressive Christianity, with no pressure to attend or agree to anything. Master is considering it, though he has said he isn’t there yet. 

But now let’s go back to last night, because that’s where the fun certainly happened. 

I’d turned in for a nap, and in that time, Master Levi arrived home. 

He says he’s “not going to lie next to you” because “I know what happens”. 

Naps — he means we’ll both nap for an hour. Nothing else. 

Except something else did happen, as I sort of knew it inevitably would. 

One kiss, and suddenly he’s in the dragon’s lair. 

Suddenly, he’s dozing and recovering next to me, whether or not he wanted to be. Whether or not he planned to be. 

The Borgs are right: resistance really is futile.